Episode 46: The Martian, The Martian VS. MOON, Top 5 Survival Stories

Super Fantastic Nerd Hour!

“As with most of life's problems, this one can be solved by a box of pure radiation.” We discuss Andy Weir’s breakout scifi novel The Martian! How did this self-published story become a bestselling novel? What’s unique about its blend of science and fiction? If you take out The Martian’s technobabble, is it still a compelling story? Will Matt Damon be a convincing astronaut in the 2015 Ridley Scott film adaptation? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, who would you want to live with in a space station — The Martian’s Mark Watney or MOON’s Sam Bell? We share our top 5 survival stories and review the Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Jurassic World trailers. Special guest, bibliophile Zainab Chaudary of The Memorist.

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Show Notes

• 0:00 – 19:45: The Martian - non-spoiler discussion.
• 19:46 – 49:00: The Martian - spoiler review.
• 49:01 – 58:35: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: The Martian VS. MOON.
• 58:36 - 1:36:35: Top 5 Survival Stories.
• 1:36:35 - 1:48:32: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens & Jurassic World trailer review.

Links

• Andy Weir: ‘The Martian’ (Science Friday)
• A Survival Guide to Mars (Wall Street Journal review)
• The App That Helped Write a Breakout Sci-Fi Novel
• The audacious rescue plan that might have saved space shuttle Columbia
• Ridley Scott in Talks to Direct Matt Damon in 'The Martian'
• Play Oregon Trail online
• Jerri FitzGerald, Who Treated Herself at South Pole, Dies at 57
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens Official Teaser
• Jurassic World - Official Trailer
• The Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer Awakens Parodies

Top 5 Survival Stories

Zainab:

1. Battlestar Galactica
2. I am Legend by Richard Matheson
3. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
4. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
5. Children of Men

Conrad:

1. Europa, Europa by Solomon Perel
2. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
3. Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald
4. Aron Ralston (Between a Rock and a Hard Place & 127 Hours)
5. Cast Away

Ali:

1. Battlestar Galactica
2. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
3. 127 Hours
4. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
5. The Oregon Trail

Honorable Mentions:

• Alive (1993 film)
• The Ninth Doctor (Doctor Who)
• Marina Chapman